Prevalence of Depression among School-going Adolescents in an Urban Area of Bihar, India

Depression is one of the under-recognized health problems in adolescents. Emotional instability resulted from childhood to adulthood transition makes adolescents vulnerable to depression.

The aim of the study was to explore the prevalence of depression and its associated sociodemographic factors among school-going adolescents.

This cross-sectional study was undertaken from January 2016 to June 2016 in adolescents studying in 9-12^th standard from forty schools located in an urban area of Patna, Bihar. The self-administered questionnaire of Beck's Depression Inventory II was utilized to assess the prevalence of depression. Statistical analysis was done with Pearson's Chi-square test using SPSS software version 21.0.

Among the 1412 selected students, the prevalence of depression was found to be 49.2%, wherein the prevalence of severe depression was 7.7%. The overall prevalence of depression was significantly (P < 0.001) higher among girls (55.1%) than boys (45.8%). The prevalence of depression was found to be higher among students belonging to minorities (Buddhism, Jainism, etc.) (63.3%, P < 0.001). Elder students were found to be more depressed than younger students. Depression was found to be statistically significantly associated with gender and religion (P < 0.005). Guilty feeling (69.48%) was one of the most prominent clinical factors associated with depression followed by pessimism (58.14%), sadness (56.52%), and past failure (55.81%).

Mental health is one of the most neglected aspects of our society. There is a need to increase awareness about depression among teachers and parents to identify and help depressed adolescents in the school.